Our Pastor

Pastor Dave Thielo Click Here To Email the Pastor!

The Rev. David P. Thielo has been the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church since February 1989. Previously he was the assistant pastor at Resurrection Church in Saginaw, Michigan. Pastor Dave is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. His undergraduate work was at Valparaiso University in Indiana where he majored in Political Science and Sociology.  Pastor Dave met his wife Ruth at Valparaiso University, and they were married in May 1981. Ruth is a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic where she works in the heart catheterization laboratory. Pastor Dave and Ruth have two adult children, Angela Joyce and Carl David.

Milestones during Pastor Dave’s ministry at Christ:

  • Ordination of Joyce Taipale on October 27, 1990
  • Fund drive for building and renovation raised $84,000 in 1991
  • Purchase of an Allen organ in December 1991
  • Celebrated 40 years as a congregation in February 1994
  • First time attendance of young people at the Youth Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1994
  • Dedication of new facilities (offices, nursery, gathering area, handicapped-accessible bathroom) November 13, 1994
  • Pastor Dave’s 10th anniversary in the ministry celebrated in 1995
  • Dedication of the side stained glass windows in November 1995
  • Dedication of the front stained glass window in September 1997
  • Prayer Partners Ministry started September 1998
  • Small Group Ministries 1999
  • Prayer Garden planted in 2002
  • Renovation of the sanctuary in 2004
  • Celebrated 20th anniversary as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in February 2009
  • 25th Ordination Anniversary celebration in July 2010